Melinda Kusemachibi
MASHAVA– Residents are unhappy with Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) over failure to complete a one-kilometer stretch along the Balmain-Bere road that has been under rehabilitation for over a month.
It is alleged that the RDC initiated the project and abandoned it midway after just grading and leveling the road without tarring it.
Mashava resident Onias Chepiri accused council of lacking seriousness saying the project was abandoned long back.
“After council had graded the road, they abandoned it and it is now almost two months after they started. We are not happy at all because they seem to have forgotten that they have a pending project. By the look of things, resources meant for the project might have been diverted or even looted.
“Council previously made promises of constructing up to standard roads to residents for a long time, but this promise has not been fulfilled though the local authority received funds from government under the Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Program (ERRP),” said Chepiri.
When contacted for comment, Ward 5 Masvingo (RDC) Councilor Aleta Makomeke highlighted that the road project has taken long than expected therefore inconveniencing residents.
“We had a meeting on September 14, 2021 and frantic efforts to engage the contractor to expedite the completion of the road are being made. Soon the project will resume going stage by stage,” said Makomeke.
Masvingo RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Martin Mubviro said grieving residents have to come forward and report the matter straight to council for a lasting solution.
“Contractors are already doing their job and residents should communicate to council all their grievances,” said Mubviro.
Recently Mashava residents fumed at a budget consultative meeting where they expressed their displeasure over ‘unfair treatment’ by the local authority in implementation of developmental projects.
